Tag Archives: comfort

I hope this wasn’t considered cheating on my “Month of No Pellets”. I have been through a week and all the birds are doing well, weighing them everyday and still training. One HUGE difference I’ve noticed and I’m not sure why but the noise level has diminished A LOT! I’m definitely not complaining, I still hear them talking English but any yaking or bird noises that make you want to plug your ears are very little. Maybe they have just decided to be quiet this week or maybe there is some kind of connection between the pellets and noise level or maybe the schedule I have them on without pellets makes a difference, who knows the possibilities are endless. What I do know is I had a very quiet week hahaha.

Because they have all been really good and didn’t pout or put up a resistance to not being given pellets I let my daughters help me bake some birdie bread for them today. I think I should have put some more Sunshine Factor in it as it came out a little dry looking but apparently that was only on top, the inside was moist and it was the first time I EVER baked Birdie Bread for my birdies. I used the Pepper mix and all the parrots ate it right up. NOW, that could be because it’s closer to getting pellets than anything else they have been getting or they might just really like it, we’ll see as I will make it again.

The only ingredients I had to add was 2 eggs and Sunshine Factor (Red Palm Oil) so definitely something easy to make. Now where I live one bag is 18.75 CAD but this will probably last me 3 or 4 days depending on the portion size I decide to give. I have 5 parrots eating this though most people would only have one or two so this would probably last you a while depending on your portion size and how often you feed it. I will definitely try the other flavors which are Original and Millet.

The funny thing is my parrots don’t like red palm oil usually (Not sure if this is true for the IRNs as I never tried them with it) so I was scared that they wouldn’t accept the bread but I guess with it cooked in the bread they didn’t mind or again it could be the lack of pellets that enticed them. Overall though I have heard very good reviews regarding the bread and my review would be the same. It was quick, easy to mix, easy to bake, easy to clean up after and the Parrots enjoyed it so I do/will recommend the Harrison’s Birdie Bread. I will do a video of me tasting it with the birds so look out for that and then you will see if I, myself like the taste even though my taste buds really don’t matter as it’s not for me to eat.

Let’s be real at least one item on this list does not match with your personality but yet you want one anyway… Why would we do this to ourselves?

Is it for the “WOW” factor – “OMG you have a parrot?!? That’s so cool!”
Is it for the fancy color patterns that are so often seen in the Macaws?
Is it for the challenge of proving to ourselves that we can do it?

Must Touch Everything

Why? Why take on more work? As if you don’t already have to deal with the horrible boss at your 9 – 5. Or the annoying, nosy neighbor that always wants to borrow sugar. Or the kids who don’t listen. Or what about your own cleaning? As if you don’t make enough mess in your own household that you are constantly cleaning that you want to add more work for yourself? Why?

To be honest, I don’t even know if I have the answer. Parrots are A LOT of work, some days I don’t want to deal/interact with them especially if I’m down but on other days I couldn’t imagine my life with just one. They fill a void in my life, I’m not quite sure what the void is but something about being around parrots makes me happy. It’s like being around my kids, when they aren’t driving me up the wall, they make me smile and so happy to have them around me but I still worry about them same as with my parrids.

Hi

So if you are thinking of getting a parrot, great choice! Just make sure you are ready for that lifelong commitment. Understand that they go through stages just like humans. They are a very hands on pet, cage bound is NOT the way to go with them and they talk back and you don’t always like what you hear hahaha. Sometimes I wonder how my life would be without them – Peaceful, I would have more money, more me time, less cleaning, more travelling, less education hahaha. Oh man the list can go on and on but one thing stops me – I would miss my companions too much. I love when my house is clean, their cages are clean and I can spend some actual quality time with each and every one but still think twice about a parrot purchase because that quality time could have been “me” time or going out time etc…

So you think you want a parrot? hmm.. PROBABLY NOT! If you consider all the work you have to put into a parrot to keep them well-trained/well-tamed. However in that same breath, if all the above doesn’t scare you then maybe you are ready to move further along in your process of obtaining a feathered toddler.

The first time a parrot ever spoke to me was Grayson, the grey! We had had him since he was 4 months old and I thought that I may have lucked out and gotten a grey that wouldn’t speak because at 12 months I still didn’t hear him utter a word. Then one day, I was walking past his huge white cage and all I seen is him standing very tall and straight by the front of his cage and he whispered, “Grayson”. I stopped and starting jumping for joy, so excited for the revelation that my Grey did in fact have a voice and his first words were his name, “Grayson”. It sounded like a little baby whispering.

I would say “What’s your name?” and he would respond with his name.
Absolutely amazing!! This was our start to a wonderful vocabulary. He is 5 now and very shy to talk in front of strangers and although I think his vocab should be further along, I’m still in awe when I hear him respond correctly to a question, or singing a tune that we’ve played or calling out another parrot’s names and telling them to step up.

Grayson saying his first word gave me the same feeling as hearing a baby talk for the first time. Joy, excitement and nervousness because you now realize your little baby has hit another milestone and is growing up. I’ll never forget Grayson’s first words, not just because I have it on video but because he was the 1st parrot to talk to me and there was an innocence about him that unfortunately he no longer has hahaha.